Kitsap Transit eyeing its own landing dock on Seattle waterfront

Zachary Fletcher, Kitsap Sun
·2 min read
FILE — Kitsap Transit's M/V Finest leaves the dock in Seattle in January 2019. Kitsap Transit has been leasing dock space since it launched fast ferry service to downtown Seattle, and now it has a grant to explore locating and building its own exclusive terminal.
FILE — Kitsap Transit's M/V Finest leaves the dock in Seattle in January 2019. Kitsap Transit has been leasing dock space since it launched fast ferry service to downtown Seattle, and now it has a grant to explore locating and building its own exclusive terminal.

Kitsap Transit is scoping out a new location on the Seattle waterfront for its fast ferries to dock.

The Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project, led by Kitsap Transit and the Federal Transit Administration, is in the beginning stages of creating a dedicated landing dock for passenger-only ferry service. Kitsap Transit currently shares space on the Seattle waterfront with the King County Water Taxi. That terminal is operated by King County Marine Division and only has space for two vessels to dock at a time. Kitsap Transit's fast ferry fleet has four total boats from its three routes vying for space at the Pier 50 terminal.

Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry service launched in 2017 and now operates three routes to downtown Seattle from Southworth, Bremerton and Kingston. The King County Water Taxi operates two separate routes.

Until May 2, 2022, the Bremerton-Seattle Fast Ferry route docked at a private location at Pier 54. After a lease for the site was not renewed, the Bremerton-Seattle route was moved to Pier 50. There are now five routes and six vessels sharing a two-boat dock.

Project officials are looking for a space that can manage all three of Kitsap Transit's fast ferry’s routes and provide one backup slip. Increased space for passenger waiting areas, transit access and future planning for electric vessel charging are also considerations for the new site.

There is no current cost estimate for the project, but Kitsap Transit spokesman Sanjay Bhatt says that close to $2.5 million in a 2024-2025 grant from the Federal Transit Administration has already been secured. To apply for these federal grants, Bhatt says, Kitsap Transit is required to seek public input on the project.

Kitsap Transit opened a public comment period on May 12 and is currently seeking input from other agencies, tribal governments and riders. Along the Seattle waterfront, the project is looking as far north as Pier 70 and as south as Pier 46 for potential building sites. Kitsap Transit is not aware of any dock space currently for sale. Construction is estimated to begin in 2027.

The project’s next public meeting is Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. Community members can share their comments at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/86effccb244f4afbb07de9486796fa77 through June 13.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap Transit eyeing new dock on Seattle waterfront